Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Droid 'Pulse': TH asked for us to put this together...lemme know what you think.
darthfodder
Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:37 pm
#28
not sure if this was mentioned or where we are with this issue but i love the survey droid if it was a little faster and gave stats of resources.
neinnunb
Thu Jun 10, 2004 11:19 pm
#29
darthfodder wrote:
not sure if this was mentioned or where we are with this issue but i love the survey droid if it was a little faster and gave stats of resources.
I would love that too but that would be a double edged sword. If this were possible, sites like swgcraft.com would create programs that would parse the droid email and update the site with statsin a much faster way.. you only need one person to send out the droids every morning (using an average stack of 10 uses, thats just 5 droids) and boom... all the stats for anyone to get at swgcraft.com without the need to use a droid.
At least now with having to enter the stats manually, the error rate is not zero and you always have doubts if a certain spawn has changed or you just want to make sure about a resource, knowing that swgcraft.com may be in error.
My original idea of how a survey droid would work is not giving you names of all the resources, but to actually survey the area around you (maybe 500m diamiter, distance depending on your survey skill, or maybe even only allowing someone withSurvey IV to use the droid) for a particular resourcebut would take maybe5 minutes to do... in that time your droid cannot be relocated or stored. So you have a choice of either zipping aroundin your speeder and manually surveying, or making your droid survey and you could spend that time doing other things while you wait for a report from the droid.
That would be very useful time spent while waiting at the starport 
neinnunb
Thu Jun 10, 2004 11:45 pm
#30
Straker_Atrella wrote:
R2D2 and C3PO were the exception, Droids are disposable.
I like to demo my droids in public.. and one time a friend of mine was impressed by one of my droids attack capability. I offered to give it to him for free as a friend. He said he would love it, but he already had 5 droids and he was so attached to them that he could not replace them even if it was for getting a better droid.
Thats why in the movies it works so well, because you get attached emotionally to R2D2 and C3PO. That same "hollywood" formula also works well in SWG. People like to have a sidekick go with them troughout their career. I want my customers to feel that way too about the droids I build them.
So "repairing" droids (vitality)is probably the best way to go. Make it very expensive to make it a total repair (vitality back at 100/100).. maybe even more expensive to repairthan buying a brand new droid. That way people who dont have any attachments to their droids toss them away for a new one.. but someone who does get attached would not mind spending more to repair the droid.
Couple this idea with the addition of a special newcity structure, owned by a MDE to work much like the ID tents. You could only do these expensive repairs inside this structure... which reminds me, I remember Sintrosi talked about player city structure specifically for DE's and that could be something we could be asking for.
Straker_Atrella
Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:22 am
#31
I know what your saying, and understand that people get attached to their Droids. My problem with having Droid Decay solved by any type of "repair" or "recharge" solution is this. If I wanted to make my money sitting around servicing people, I would be a Master Doctor.
Of course, I take special orders, and deal with customers now, I don't mind that. Yet if Droid decay was implemented in such a way that the only real way to make a decent living was sitting in Coronet fixing droids, I wouldn't like that.
Does a Weaponsmith or Armorsmith need to sit around and repair Armor or Weapons to make a living? No. Sure they CAN if they want to, but they make far more money selling items then they do on repairs.
As a Droid Engineer, I spend a lot of time running around getting resources, making factory runs, putting droids together. I enjoy it actually, but I certainly don't want to stand somewhere fixing Droids all day.
This is why I think the only "good" form of Droid Decay will FORCE people to buy new droids once in a while, just like anything else.
Straker
JeCy
Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:50 am
#32
im with ya on the name program but thats trivial dont take long to train 4 but i do see your point.
the organization would be nice. but as a long time crafter armorer, aritsan, chef, arcitect, De i got finding stuff down, though it would be nice
i dont agree with the master artisan stuff, take away that there stuff what are they left with,, power ups and vehicles and survey tool? as it is master artisans need love, though there food revamp was nice but people still hit the chefs.. I dont get anyone knocking down my door for jawa beer. maybe if they gave master aritsans tons of new stuff and some really cool vehilce upgrades and things to that nature i maybe persuaded to go with ya on that but right now,, definalty not.
Entertainer droids. Give it till the holo grinders are done and entertaining becomes a viable prof again. You have no idea how cool a show can be with a troop of enterianers with droids. Stop on by Syn city naboo, Radiant, saturday at 8pm est for a Show put on by CoE you will see a show you will not soon forget, entertainer droids rock.
Binary load lifters, power droids. let um deal with harvesters
proticol droids, we gotta name these guys and get um talking more. Translation module and a language nerf would be great.
More chasis.. Yes i want more chasis.. espeically the 3 and 6 module ones, the only thing i use R'3 for are combat, harvest, detonation, entertainer, i refuse to make anything else in them
Mouse bombs,, these this are d'bomb i love um,, just dont stand to close when they go off or you'll be tak'in a dirt nap
Sample droids, id love a module that would let a prob launch of to another planet to take a sample. This would be either reusable, or only alowed to have one in use at a time.. the droid would take a single sample and report back. single use or reusable would keep there sample use down, soo a person could go planet hop for an hour and be much more effective, or they could send out a drone and take 3-4 samples over the next 3-4 hours... let um work but get what they need. Not every one has 10 hours a night they can play.. it would make the causal player to be a bit more effective in mining. Survey drones for updates where a step in the right direction
Survey droids. Id love to ride im my speeder and track resorces with out getting out with the use of a droid,.. my R2 should beable to ride along in my landspeeder !!! come on luke goto soo why cant i : ) Outta speeder they could boost your survey range. or sample rate
just a few ideas, hoped ya like
Je'Cy Dax, Radaint
R0ZM4N
Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:12 am
#33
It's a thing of beauty bossman 
BTW do you have an RL job flower? 
BTW do you have an RL job flower? Extra-Big-Hug-For-All-The-Hard-Work
Cass
Gavvot
Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:34 am
#34
A little more comment :
Hum, unless DE is different then all the other prof in the game, Master require 1 Skill point, not 2.
Skill-tree : I think it should be reworked, some of the things there doesn't make any sence.
Variety of possible products/configurations to offer : Even if it is much better, I think there is some need of rework here, some modules are broken, some are completely unused because of the requirement or limitations.
Combat droid : For the stat, make the comparaison with Creature pet. A creature pet 'Deed' (sigh) does show all those info (wonder what the CH would think of a combat rating alone on their pet when they buy it) .
Beside that, A maxed probot in PvP versus a TKA or a Stun batton Fencer (probably all the prof) not even master last about 1.2 seconds. As probot is ranged only, he should, like ranged mob do, run away when againt melee oponent.
A full auto-repair probot is more usefull in combat than a full combat probot. Not sure this was intended.
Harvester droid : About the same issue as combat droid (another copy/paste?).
Customization : As I said, the color lifespan is probably one of the most unfun part for me(except bugs). Also, custom kit don't work on 3PO, and 3PO chassis cannot be customized for display model (workaround is to make a deed but hum, not really the same thing).
Decay : Even if I think decay should exist, it shouldn't be the same for all modules.
Entertainers use much more their droids then any other customer and should be rewarded for that.
For the uber item to sell, we have that, the R3, and I don't like that.
It's exactly like the compo armor, you see them everywhere and wonder if something else exist.
I don't like that.
Grouping issue : well, one person grouping with a droid has the same bug as grouped people (finished mission not being rewarded).
Hum, unless DE is different then all the other prof in the game, Master require 1 Skill point, not 2.
Skill-tree : I think it should be reworked, some of the things there doesn't make any sence.
Variety of possible products/configurations to offer : Even if it is much better, I think there is some need of rework here, some modules are broken, some are completely unused because of the requirement or limitations.
Combat droid : For the stat, make the comparaison with Creature pet. A creature pet 'Deed' (sigh) does show all those info (wonder what the CH would think of a combat rating alone on their pet when they buy it) .
Beside that, A maxed probot in PvP versus a TKA or a Stun batton Fencer (probably all the prof) not even master last about 1.2 seconds. As probot is ranged only, he should, like ranged mob do, run away when againt melee oponent.
A full auto-repair probot is more usefull in combat than a full combat probot. Not sure this was intended.
Harvester droid : About the same issue as combat droid (another copy/paste?).
Customization : As I said, the color lifespan is probably one of the most unfun part for me(except bugs). Also, custom kit don't work on 3PO, and 3PO chassis cannot be customized for display model (workaround is to make a deed but hum, not really the same thing).
Decay : Even if I think decay should exist, it shouldn't be the same for all modules.
Entertainers use much more their droids then any other customer and should be rewarded for that.
For the uber item to sell, we have that, the R3, and I don't like that.
It's exactly like the compo armor, you see them everywhere and wonder if something else exist.
I don't like that.
Grouping issue : well, one person grouping with a droid has the same bug as grouped people (finished mission not being rewarded).
Aiyee
Fri Jun 11, 2004 7:21 am
#35
Hey TK,
Long time...
Anyhow, here's a 'unfun':
The grind up to Master DE. If you're rich, it's easier, but you still have the
400+ MSE's to get there. If you're not rich, it's hard to get credits to do
the things you need for the grind, plus you have the 400+ MSE's to get there.
Make being a novice DE, more 'fun'.
Disclaimer: this hasn't changed since my track up to MDE has it?
Long time...
Anyhow, here's a 'unfun':
The grind up to Master DE. If you're rich, it's easier, but you still have the
400+ MSE's to get there. If you're not rich, it's hard to get credits to do
the things you need for the grind, plus you have the 400+ MSE's to get there.
Make being a novice DE, more 'fun'.
Disclaimer: this hasn't changed since my track up to MDE has it?
Gavvot
Fri Jun 11, 2004 7:24 am
#36
A little, as Novice can now build some more modules.
MSE with visual effect for cheap can sell a little more.
But yes, the way in the skill tree is a pain.
Giving no real option except grinding.
I'm glad I had a friend that was Ranger, without that, I would probably no be a DE anymore.
MSE with visual effect for cheap can sell a little more.
But yes, the way in the skill tree is a pain.
Giving no real option except grinding.
I'm glad I had a friend that was Ranger, without that, I would probably no be a DE anymore.
AudioOrgana
Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:46 am
#37
Straker_Atrella wrote:
I know what your saying, and understand that people get attached to their Droids. My problem with having Droid Decay solved by any type of "repair" or "recharge" solution is this. If I wanted to make my money sitting around servicing people, I would be a Master Doctor.
Totally, utterly agree with you.
That's why I said that personally I wouldn't enjoy such a system.
It's also why I have all but given up special droid orders. They are favors for me at this point, simply because even with my several e-mail catalogs and descriptive signs/vendor guides I *STILL* have to spend 30-45mins minimum to do a special order between initial contact to explaination to actually sitting and building the thing.
This is something we really need to take into consideration when discussing decay, however. While there is certainly a need for utility droids to decay (Combat droids already do so quite nicely), the way the system is currently set up is going to make this very hard to implement both development-wise and in terms of player reaction if we try to destroy peoples droids.
So we are on the same page as each other - I have no desire to be a Droid Repair Tool, so to speak - and I have no real soloution at this time, but it is really something that does need to be addressed in any decay system we propose.
AO
TheRealTK421
Fri Jun 11, 2004 11:22 am
#38
R0ZM4N wrote:
It's a thing of beauty bossman
Uhhh...yea, I thought this was my RL job.
Aiyee wrote:
Make being a novice DE, more 'fun'.
** slips on his TH sockpuppet **
'Okay....how?'
Disclaimer: this hasn't changed since my track up to MDE has it?
Nope...not a ton.
AudioOrgana wrote:
Straker_Atrella wrote:
I know what your saying, and understand that people get attached to their Droids. My problem with having Droid Decay solved by any type of "repair" or "recharge" solution is this. If I wanted to make my money sitting around servicing people, I would be a Master Doctor.
[snip]
This is something we really need to take into consideration when discussing decay, however. While there is certainly a need for utility droids to decay (Combat droids already do so quite nicely), the way the system is currently set up is going to make this very hard to implement both development-wise and in terms of player reaction if we try to destroy peoples droids.
Yea...how a new decay/repair system would work is a pretty big unknown right now. I, too, don't want to be a repair 'tool'...so we need to take that into consideration when we think about how a new/better decay or repair system would work.
I'll try to spend a bit o' time over the weekend considering how this might be possible. If you have thoughts..I'd love to hear them.
/bow
Respectfully,
Ke_la
Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:20 pm
#39
TheRealTK421 (our Beloved Coor.) Wrote:
Top 5 recommended changes (based on the current state of DE):
- Interdependence to MA too steep (EMMs and EGPs to Novice DE would help a lot).
- Rework droid schematic / parts list in crafting station "Droid" tab.
- More chassis-specific bonuses (a la Detonation modules in MSE droids)...or just more chassis types in general.
Note: This could also be applied to how Item Storage modules 'stack' in BLL Droids, partly addressing some of the storage 'un-funs' (#4)...as well as making them more desired (which, right now, they really aren't).
- A More Robust Decay ('State of Repair vs. Functionality') System.
- Droid names (conversational droids + filter issues, i.e. 'droidy names').
I agree with all of this, one thing with the First Bullet Point though is Though I Could be Wrong I think EMMs and EGPs are used by the other Elite Crafters, if this is the Case then it would move the mods out of easily acheaved range of the other Crafters instead how about moving them "down" to Engeeneering 4. It would have the same Net effect as well as Moving them to Novice DE and still keep them in the artsan profesion.
I have menchened this befor on other post but one option I was thinking of to make BLLs more useful and add Eliete Profession interdepnancy is this:
an Architech Creats a "crate" that can "hold" 75 iteams can only be "dropped" in a house but does not count in the House Ieam count. you then "Fill" the Crate with Iteams in the house. You then call your BLL that as a BINARY Load Lifter can accually "carry" Two crates totaling 150 Iteams(max for all but Large house and other Stuctures). This would alow People to move there house very efficantly and It would Definatly be an Imercive use for the droid. There would have to be Balances and Explote Checks to avoid thoughs things such as once "sealed" the Crate can only be opened once and the Crate Contence ARE Counted in the house Iteam count. Now this will DEFINATLY be something that would accure Post JTL but it is something that would be very useful Specially with YT1300s being Decoratable.
Message Edited by Ke_la on 06-11-2004 02:17 PM